Kings Look to End Celtics Home Win Streak

by FLCeltsFan on Dec 12, 2007 9:52 AM EST in Games Comment 11 comments

Sacramento Kings (8-12) at Boston Celtics (17-2)
Wednesday, December 12
7:30 PM ET
Game #20 Home Game #11
TV: NBA LP ch 754, CSNHD, News 10
TD Banknorth Garden

Chat l Game Thread

Kings Coverage: Sactown Royalty

Game Notes
Ron Artest was suspended for the first 7 games and has been averaging 21 points, 6.5 rebounds. 4.3 assists, and 2.4 steals in his last 11 games. The Kings won both games against the Celtics last season. And are 12-2 against the Celtics in the last 7 seasons. The Kings were 0-8 on the road before beating the Bucks 96-93 on Monday night. The Celtics are coming into this game well rested. They last played on Saturday and had two days off of practice before practicing again on Tuesday in preparation for this game.

Perk injured his toe on his bed and Pollard woke up with a stiff back and both are questionable for tonight's game. It is hard to tell what will happen with the lineup if Perk is out. Doc has said he would move KG over to center and start Big Baby, Scalabrine or Posey at power forward but wasn't committal as to what he would do.

My preference would be to start Big Baby and then bring Powe in behind him at PF and use Posey behind Pierce at SF to match up with Artest.

The Kings are not a big three point threat so the Celtics will need to concentrate the defense more inside as Artest, Moore and Miller will look to try to get the ball in the paint. Perk has been giving us a great defensive presence inside and with him out, the rest of the Celtics will need to work harder in that area to keep the Kings from getting easy baskets inside. On the other end, the Kings are not a big shot blocking team so the Celtics should be able to get inside and should look to go to the hoop more.

More After the Jump

Probable Starting Matchups

PG: Rajon Rondo vs Beno Udrich

SG: Ray Allen vs John Salmons

SF: Paul Pierce vs Ron Artest

PF: Big Baby Davis vs Mikki Moore

C: Kevin Garnett vs Brad Miller

Key Matchup

Paul Pierce PPG 20.2 | RPG 5.4 | APG 5.4
Ron Artest PPG 20.3 | RPG 6.5 | APG 4.3
Ron Artest guards Paul Pierce as well as anyone in the league. In the past, shutting down Pierce was a way to shut down the Celtics but now, Artest can shut down Pierce and the Celtics still have plenty of weapons. With Pierce's new found love of defense, he should be able to slow down Artest as well. There is also the now infamous play where Ron Artest pulled down Pierce's shorts in a game only to have Pierce drain a 3 while still trying to get his shorts back in place. In case you forgot, you can see it, along with a singing apology from Artest, here.

Key off the Bench:

James Posey's defensive game matches that of Ron Artest and he will be crucial in taking Artest out of the game.

Keys to the Game

1. Maintain intensity and feed off the home crowd.

2. Play 48 minutes. Come out of the blocks hard and don't let up until the end.

3. Limit turnovers. The Celtics are still too careless with the ball and need to tighten up in this area.

4. Contain Artest. Artest is the Kings' leading scorer and if the Celtics can contain him, it would go a long way toward winning the game.

5. Defense. The Celtics have been winning with defense and they need to continue with that defensive intensity.

Interesting Stats
Celtics are 10-0 at home
Average margin of victory at home is 21.1
Points allowed 87.73, best in the NBA
Celtics are out rebounding teams by 5.21 rpg
Celtics are averaging 2.57 more steals per game than opponents
Celtics are averaging 16.10 turnovers per game

Kings are 1-8 on the road
Kings are averaging 99.8 points per game
Kings are allowing 102.9 points per game

Kings are being out-rebounded by opponents by 2.9

Deja Vu

There have been several comparisons between this team and the 1985-86 Championship team. Both teams could claim a 17-2 record after their first 19 games. The 1985-86 team was undefeated at home going into their 20th game against the Portland Trailblazers, who weren't expected to put up much resistance against the Celtics juggernaut. This Celtics team is also undefeated at home going into their 20th game and facing another Western conference team who isn't expected to put up much resistance against the Celtics juggernaut. Will history repeat itself?

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Comments

Fl Celt Fan, Thanks for the post. But no way Powe will come in to sub that early. He has been awful in the few minutes he has played this season. He was ineffective most of last year. Scal will play much sooner, and much more, than Powe. It is what it is.

by footey on Dec 12, 2007 11:01 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Just hope Perk’s injury isn’t bad. Little things like that can turn into big things. I wouldn’t mind playing Scals against Brad Miller if Perk can’t go. I think Scal’s can defend him. He’ll watch film and see what Miller’s moves are. If you play Miller smartly he won’t beat you.

by TrueGreen on Dec 12, 2007 11:12 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I like Leon but I think footey is right. Scal and Big Baby split most of the time. Here was Pollard’s chance. What a doofus!

by Wildblu1 on Dec 12, 2007 11:25 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Big Baby has certainly earned the minutes. He impresses me each time on the court. footey still hatin on Powe? Sorry I do not see it like you do. Oh well. Powe gets scrub minutes, so of course that always makes him look disorganized or unsure because that is more like YMCA basketball at that point. I promise you that Powe could outrebound Scali is his freakin sleep and as a PF coming off the bench that is what they are supposd to do!

I am not so sure how anyone this year could possibly defend Scali and his minutes thus far in any valid statisitcal supportive fashion or even by mere observation. Even the Celtic crowd mocks him, and his teammates mock him it appears. I am not saying Powe has all he tools to be a great player, or even a long term pro player. I am however saying Scali, and those dangling intangibles, people keep talking about might as well be orange colored Christmas tree ornaments hanging on the backside of my tree. Good lord. Scali is a very personable good all around guy who has never shown me more than a few very minor minor glimpse of doing anything wortwhile on the court since he has been here.

by Master Po on Dec 12, 2007 1:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

So far this year:

Scal 5.31 PER (projected 5.83)
Powe 9.78 PER (projected 15.12)

I would give Leon Powe a chance to play some quality minutes and see what happens, especially since where Powe is strongest (inside game) is where we need the depth. Scal’s role on offense is spot up 3pters, something I’d rather have Posey, Allen, or House doing. Powe’s role is follow ups, boards, and dump offs: things that Perkins and Pollard are good at – but they are both out.

by Brendan on Dec 12, 2007 3:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Brendan,
Well stated.

by slamtheking on Dec 12, 2007 3:45 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I agree that Brendan stated it well. But to Master Po’s point, Brendan, that PER is useless because Leon comes in at YMCA time. Master Po, I do go to a lot of games and the crowd isn’t down on Scal. They certainly aren’t down on Leon either. I like Scal but I can’t argue with you about his rebounding. But he’s a pretty good floor player – passing, straight D, help D, occasional 3.

by Wildblu1 on Dec 12, 2007 4:14 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Master Po: “Even the Celtic crowd mocks him, and his teammates mock him it appears.”—in ref to Scals

Maybe the fans mock him (or maybe he’s become a cult figure to them), but I am sure his teammates do NOT mock him. This is not that type of team. The players may pull his chain as he probably does theirs. This is all in fun. But I repeat, this is a team that can chew out a teammate and it won’t be personal, it is NOT a team that DEMEANS teammates (or opponents either).

by TrueGreen on Dec 12, 2007 5:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

The Doc dislikers are quiet now, but to get a good perspective of how players feel about Doc, read this article in the Patriot Ledger: http://ledger.southofboston.com/articles/2007/12/12/sports/sports02.txt
The comments attributed to P2 by Garnett are particularly telling after looking back on the relationship in Doc’s first year.

by TrueGreen on Dec 12, 2007 6:01 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

The game should be fun. I’d like to see Big Baby play alot. Powe could also play center against Miller and Hawes.

by greendoc on Dec 12, 2007 6:38 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

The Doc dislikers are quiet now, but to get a good perspective of how players feel about Doc, read this article in the Patriot Ledger: http://ledger.southofboston.co…orts02.txt
——————————————————
There’s been little to complain about lately. Rotations make sense. Less Scalabrine is always a positive.

by iowa plowboy on Dec 12, 2007 7:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs